James Meyers Dunn

James Meyers Dunn, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, passed away on January 24, 2017. He was born in Pocatello, Idaho on April 16, 1940 to Billy Ellertson and Melba Meyers Dunn. Jim grew up in Salt Lake City with 4 brothers and a sister whom he loved with all of his heart. Their family loved to laugh and Jim developed his great sense of humor growing up among them. He loved his parents dearly. Jim graduated from Granite High School. He was the Junior Class President and Sandra (Penny) Barker was the Junior Class Secretary. Theirs was a match made in heaven. Jim attended the University of Utah and affiliated with Sigma Chi, where he made many life-long friends. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Utah National Guard. He served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Uruguayan Mission from 1960-1963. It was the beginning of Jim’s love of missionary service and the Latin American people. Upon his return, Jim married his sweetheart, Penny, on August 7, 1963 in the Salt Lake Temple. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Latin American Studies from BYU and his juris doctorate from the University of Utah. Jim worked for the Salt Lake County Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office before going into private practice. He was a founding partner in the firm Jardine, Linebaugh & Dunn. He was a prominent trial lawyer and well recognized within his profession as an outstanding attorney. Jim loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He valued the relationships he made while serving as Branch President and Stake President in the University of Utah 1st and 2nd Stakes and as Bishop of the Valley View 11th Ward. He and Penny took their six daughters to Bogotá, Colombia, where he was the Mission President from 1980-1983. He served as an Area Authority Seventy before being called to serve as a General Authority in 2002. Jim was a Counselor in and the President of the South American West Area Presidency. He worked as a Sealer in the Bountiful Temple until his health would no longer permit it. Jim had a gift with words. This gift served him well in both his occupation and in his church service. He chose his words carefully. When he spoke, we listened. He was a constant reader and student of a vast array of topics. He maintained his impeccable Spanish by reading his scriptures and conversing in Spanish at every opportunity. Throughout his life, Jim loved boating and fishing. He was an accomplished snow skier, water skier, and tennis player. He was a football and boxing aficionado and a connoisseur of fine ice cream. Penny and his girls loved listening to him sing and play his guitar. He loved spending time with his family. He adored and was completely devoted to Penny. His daughters know that they are his greatest treasure. His sons-in-law were his sons. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him great joy and happiness. Jim continued to be an example of great faith, inner strength and dignity throughout his battle with Parkinson ’s disease. He was patient, kind and loving and never complained. He was a true gentleman. The family would like to thank those who gave him loving care: Lacey Ringerring, Angela Meacham, Mary Ellen Haycock, Katherine Vuki, Adriana John, Connie Goss and Vicki Logan. Jim will be dearly missed by his loving wife Sandra (Penny) Barker Dunn; his adoring daughters Sally Walk (Thomas), Julie Smith (Todd), Amy Jacobsen (Eric), Marianne Dunn, Jamie Tate (Stephen), and Nancy Johnson (Jared); 22 loving grandchildren; and 4 doting great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 30, 2017 at noon at the North Salt Lake Stake Center on 900 Eaglepointe Dr. Viewings will be held at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Dr., on Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Monday prior to the service from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at Wasatch Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Missionary Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.